Diary of a Drug Fiend

256 The Diary of a Drug Fiend ' “T believe you're right, Basil,” she said. ‘ But if | you take that bottle away from us, the responsibility lies with you.” “Ts that calculated to frighten me?” he answered smiling, and rose to his feet. He dropped the bottle to the ground, and stamped his heel deliberately on it. “Now,” he said, ‘‘let’s get down to business,’’ |_resuming his seat. The fumes of the acid enveloped the table. “* Hydrocyanic acid,” he remarked, ‘is an excellent pick-me-up when absorbed into the system in this diluted form, but to take it in large doses is an in- discretion.”’ There is no doubt that the man had a tendency to what in a woman is called snagging. He constantly used the word “ indiscretion ”’ as if it were a weapon. We both winced. “You accept me,” he went on, “ as responsible for getting you out of this mess ? ”’ There was nothing else to do. It went against the grain. However, I blurted out something about being grateful. “You needn’t talk that nonsense,” he retorted severely. ‘‘ It’s my business to help people to do their wills. The gratitude is on my side. I want you to understand from the beginning that you are helping me to justify my existence by allowing me to do what I can to straighten out this tangle. But my conditions are that you give me a fair chance by doing what I say.” He did not even wait for acquiescence. “You are a bit excited nervously,” he went on. ‘‘ Depression is only another form of excitement. It means a variation from normal tone. So when you have had your coffee, I will join you in a cup, we will go around to my studio and what some of those tablets will do. Then, where are you living? ” We told him we had gone back to our old place in Greek Street.